Planning Support System (PSS) with a core of dynamic spatio-temporal model has been developed as analytical and information tools to aid and inform urban planning processes. However, scholarly communities identify that PSS has yet been popularized in planning practices, and not fully capable of meeting the challenge of understanding complex urban environments. I am dedicated to investigate and break through the bottlenecks of PSS with my experiences with University of Illinois Landuse Evolution and Impact Assessment Model (LEAM) PSS, which exemplify a PSS that that aid the process of collaboratively building spatio-temporal scenario models and transferring the knowledge to planning practitioners.
I explore the future applications of PSS including Smart Cities, sentience, resilience, and environmental planning processes and their role in improving PSS usefulness in the practice of planning. PSS improvements will be presented in terms of multi-directional spatio-temporal processes and scenario planning. Moreover, I will address the process of transferring knowledge to users on model validity and ‘goodness-of-fit’ in real world planning applications.
Beyond the traditional theoretical framework of PSS, the emerging Complex Urban System Sciences (CUS) challenge the core assumptions of spatial models of PSS, and pose opportunities for updating current PSS approaches into scalable spatio-temporal model that adheres to CUS principles. I will analyze this potential infusion by examining next generation PSSs within a framework of current CUS theories and advancement in statistical and computational methods. Case studies involved in my dissertation include LEAM PSS’ applications in McHenry County (IL), Peoria (IL), Chicago (IL), and St. Louis (MO).
The final part of this dissertation highlights my contributions to the existing CUS theories. I will demonstrates how evidence from empirical applications can contribute to CUS theory itself. I will show how CUS can challenge the core assumptions of “distance to CBD” models that economists use to characterize urban structure and land-use
